Thomas Jefferson - one of the pillars of American statehood, the president who had a hand in the creation of the Declaration of Independence, the hero of the war for liberation from the British protectorate. He lived a long and very productive life. Another great president, Franklin Roosevelt, proposed memorializing Jefferson, and in 1934 Congress approved the decision.
About personality
Thomas Jefferson was born into a we althy family and received a versatile education. In the future, this formed a wide range of his activities and hobbies: architecture, archeology, paleontology, religious studies, meteorology, linguistics, literature.
He started his career as a lawyer, always had an active social and political position, insisting on America's right to self-government. Thomas Jefferson wrote the original text of the Declaration of Independence, was Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State, Vice President, led the country. He became famous as a legislator and reformer.
Historictour
The Jefferson Memorial began being erected in November 1939. The plan was worked out by John Russell Pope, who was famous for erecting the original (western) structure of the National Gallery of Art. The project reflects the architectural ideas of Jefferson himself, which he used in developing the plan for his own estate in Monticello and the Rotunda.
He was a talented architect who favored neoclassical ideas. Both buildings use a rotunda, a round building that was popular in ancient times. This element of architecture was used by Jefferson in the construction of the building of the University of Virginia. The memorial incorporated the features of these buildings and the Roman Pantheon.
By the time work started, Pope had died. The baton was picked up by Daniel Higgins and Otto Eggers. They used white marble from Vermont for the walls and columns, and pink marble from Tennessee for the floor. The panels were clad in crisp white marble from Georgia, and the pedestal is made of gray stone brought from Missouri. The cost was $3 million.
The opening was timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth and took place on April 13, 1943. Some critics dared to say that the style of the building is hopelessly outdated, but in general the public received it very favorably.
Appearance
The massive rotunda with a portico reaches 39 m in height, and its walls are up to 1.2 m thick. They are not continuous and are interspersed with colonnades. The perimeter of the building is surrounded by 26 Ionic columns, 12 more support the portico. Ceilingreproduces the dome of the Roman Pantheon. Inside is a huge bronze statue of Jefferson (5.8 m high). This is the creation of the sculptor Rudolf Evans. The walls are decorated with quotes from the politician's works and letters. His eyes are fixed on the White House.
Evans wanted to embody his ideas about the Enlightenment, the desire for freedom and equality of rights for all people. Even though Jefferson owned slaves, he always fought against the heinous phenomenon of the slave trade.
Location
The Jefferson Memorial is located in one of the most grandiose places in Washington - the National Mall (Alley), which is a giant cross, where museums, parks, the White House, the Capitol, and the Botanical Garden are located. It occupies the southern zone - on the banks of the Tidal Basin reservoir, located between the Potomac River and the Washington Canal. Cherry trees (sakura) are planted around the reservoir, which in spring creates a unique atmosphere and a magnificent spectacle. Surrounded by water, the monument is reflected in it like in a mirror, and romantically illuminated at night.
Fun Facts
The Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC is the most famous and highly visited attraction in the city. However, tourists do not know about some amazing things associated with it.
- This place was once a city beach.
- Initially, a memorial complex dedicated to Roosevelt was planned here.
- In the computer game "Fallout 3" Jefferson Memorial is one of the locations.
- The area is surroundedmagnificent sakura, presented by the mayor of Tokyo in 1912. Fearing that the trees would be cut down, local women even staged a protest rally, but 88 plants were cut down. However, new ones were landed instead.
- The first statue of Jefferson was made of plaster, painted with bronze paint, because in wartime sculptors could not afford this metal.
A landmark in the world of gamers
The Jefferson Memorial in Fallout 3 plays a key role. A purifier for drinking water on an industrial scale is installed here. Compared to the rest of the ruins, it is well preserved. Various groups are trying to capture the place in order to establish their control over it and launch a cleaner.
Opening hours and activities
The memorial is open around the clock. Rangers are on duty from 9:30 to 22:00. Various ceremonies are held here every year, including teachings, an Easter service, and a cherry blossom viewing festival. The festival begins on March 20 and lasts for three weeks, each year it is visited by more than 1.5 million people. The starting point was a gift from the mayor of Tokyo. The peak of flowering usually falls on April 4th. The exact date depends on weather conditions. At this time, the reservoir and the memorial look especially beautiful.
